Dakhil Darwaza, (Template:Langx) also known as Salami Darwaza, is a grand 15th-16th century gateway located in Gaur, Malda district, West Bengal, India. It served as the main northern entrance to the citadel of Lakhnauti, the capital of the Bengal Sultanate. Constructed primarily with red bricks and terracotta, often attributed to the Hussain Shahi dynasty (Template:Circa), it exemplifies the Bengal style of architecture, blending Islamic and regional elements. The gateway, also called Salami Darwaza due to cannons fired from it as a salute,[1] remains a significant historical monument protected by the Archeological Survey of India.[2]
History
Scholarly opinions on the Dakhil Darwaza's date and patron differ. It is assumed that the gate was built by Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah (Template:Reign) in 1425 AD.[1] Some attribute its construction to the early 15th century under the restored Ilyas Shahi dynasty. Others link it to a 1519 inscription crediting Nusrat Shah (Template:Reign) of the Husain Shahi dynasty, suggesting it was built as a ceremonial gateway connecting the Gaur citadel to the Baro Sona Mosque (1526), about one kilometer northeast.Template:Sfn
Architecture
The gate is primarily constructed of brick, with stone facing on the piers between the doorways up to the arch springs. The structure measures Template:Convert in length and Template:Convert in width,Template:Efn featuring a central passage Template:Convert wide. Flanking the corridor are two guardrooms on each side, each measuring Template:Convert. According to measurements by Alexander Cunningham, the gateway reaches a height of approximately Template:Convert, with the main entrance arch rising to Template:Convert. Other measurements indicates the exterior Template:Convert high.Template:Sfn A smaller archway behind the wider arch leads to the vaulted passage. The architecture of Dakhil Darwaza resembles Baro Sona Mosque, Choto Sona Mosque and Adina Mosque.[3]
Gallery
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Side view of the gateway
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Corner turret
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High point of the ruined corner turrets
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Inside of the gateway
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Entrance arch
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Side view of the gate
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The doorway painted in 1795 AD
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Dakhil Darwaza painted by Henry Gordon Creighton in 1817 AD
See also
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dakhil Darwaja. Malda District. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ↑ List of Centrally Protected Monuments (ASI). National Monument Authority. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ↑ Template:Cite Banglapedia
Bibliography
- The Islamic Heritage of Bengal{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Unesco(1984). ISBN 978-92-3-102174-9